May 2006
Aircraft Deployed for Hurricane Season
Posted Tuesday, May 30, 2006
SimNASA Aeronautics Director Ronald Freudenthal today ordered the deployment of an agency WB-57, ER-2, C-130, and P-3 to the Marshall Islands - in preparation for the 2006 hurricane season, which officially starts June 1. These flight orders follow another order from the day before, when a WB-57 and a ER-2 were sent to fly high cover surveilance to support operations in key Atlantic and Pacific regions.
The aircraft shall assist with observation, study, and prediction of severe weather. SimNASA pilots willing to fly these missions must be first completed with their Training Missions, and then contact Ronald Freudenthal.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer
AESC-6 Docks
Posted Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Yesterday afternoon, almost two full days since its launch, the AESC-6 spacecraft successfully docked with Skylab-Columbia space station (SCSS).
The official dock time was at 1634 UT. "It was very smooth" CDR Hodges told mission control. AESC-6 docked just prior to SCSS going into sunset.
Crews aboard the orbiting space station were excited to have two additional visitor aboard. Accommodations aboard the station are tight as the crew of AESC-6 are resigned to the comfort of the AESC-5 spacecraft that they will bring back to Earth, along with the RTM-2 crew this coming Saturday, June 3rd.
As part of the welcome ceremony, that has become a tradition for the SCSS crew, Hodges and Lang presented Joe Rodriguez with 48 jumbo size Hershey bars.
Over the course of the next several days, Hodges and Lang will assist the SCSS 8 crew and RTM 2 crews with a retro fit to the lunar tug which will be completed with the pending STS-15 launch in June.
AESC-6 Launches
Posted Saturday, May 27, 2006
The launch of AESC-6 was "picture perfect" according to its Commander, Brad Hodges this morning.
"It was on fantastic ride! Very smooth up and everything performed just as it should of when it should have." Hodges told reporters during a post launch interview.
The Saturn IB, the last of its kind, left launch pad 34 after a short extended hold, leaving the pad at 17:00:00 UT. In a pillar of fire and smoke, it quickly gained speed as Lang and Hodges voices where heard over the loud speakers announcing mission events and giving status updates to Mission Control.
Both crew members are now safely in orbit waiting for the speed of there spacecraft to catch up with the orbiting Skylab-Columbia space station. Once there the crew is expected to stay a few days on board the station and then, along with the crew of RTM-2, board the AESC-5 spacecraft and bring it back to a safe splashdown.
As part of today's launch SimNASA members were invited to participate by providing launch support.
Current updates are being provided by the crew in the SimNASA forum. In addition pictures of todays launch are available through SimNASA LIVE! as well as the mission status pages.
AESC-6 to launch this weekend
Posted Thursday, May 25, 2006
The AESC-6 crew, consisting of Brad Hodges – CDR, and Brian Lang – PLT, report all GO for this weekend’s launch of the last Apollo Escape Capsule from launch complex 34 at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The launch will be carried live with voice transmission on the SimNASA Ventrilo server AESC6 channel, live pictures broadcasted on SimNASA LIVE! and telemetry available through vMC.
All SimNASA members are encouraged to participate in the launch event which will start approximately about one hour before the schedule launch (1655 hrs UT).
For further information on the AESC flight, to include all other SimNASA activities, visit the SimNASA forum.
AESC-6 Delayed
Posted Friday, May 19, 2006
This just in, AESC-6 has been delayed until at least next week, May 27th. It appears there were some issue with the final checkout and technicians will be addressing the issues over the course of the next several days.
It is underdermined as to if STS-15 or AESC-6 will get the launch window for May 27th. More information to follow as it becomes available.
AESC-6 set for possible launch this weekend
Posted Friday, May 19, 2006
The last of the Apollo Escape Capsule (AESC) Systems is poised for a possible launch this weekend if final clearance is given by Spaceflight Operations Director Frank Inkaar and Manned Space Director Jason Hyatt.
"We are waiting on the final figures from the flight systems checkout conducted last night with astronauts Hodges and Lang. Until that time we are proceeding with a possible launch time of around 11:18 AM eastern time tomorrow."
When pressed as to when a solid launch time would be announced, officials stated that it would be before the end of the day today. "If the figures are not available by the end of today, we will delay AESC-6 until next weekend." A public affairs official stated to the press.
The AESC program is used to supply the Skylab-Columbia space station with a fresh emergency escape capsule in case the crew of the space station had to leave the station for an emergency. The last replacement was done in December and AESC replacements are rotated every 6 months to ensure the crew has a workable and viable spacecraft.
This flight will be Hodges' and Lang's second AESC flight and their third Apollo series flight. Lang was the first Commander aboard Apollo 7 which was the predecessor of the current AESC capsule, Apollo 12, and AESC-6. Hodges has flow on Apollo 17, Skylab II, AESC-1 and AESC-6.
Hodges and Lang have also flown together before as Commander and Pilot, having served together on the Gemini III flight "Molly Brown."
In reflection on the Apollo spacecraft Hodges told reporters recently: "The Apollo series is an excellent piece of hardware, but it is time to let her go and move toward the next generation of technology."
AESC-6 will mark the last flight for both the Apollo series capsule, and the Saturn series rocket for SimNASA.
STS-15 Delayed
Posted Monday, May 15, 2006
SimNASA Administrator Brad Hodges announced this morning that the launch of STS-15 has been delayed until near the end of May due to techincal problems with the External Tank.
"We want everything to be perfect for the final flight of Dawn Trader, so we are not taking any chances."
STS-15 "Dawn Trader" was scheduled for launch this afternoon, however Sunday the countdown clocks were reset and an emergency meeting was held with the Director of Spaceflight Operations, Manned Spaceflight and the SimNASA Administrator.
Further information will be forthcomming as it becomes available. STS-15 is scheduled to deliever a new Lunar Return Vehicle (LRV) to SCSS for use with the Return to Moon program. In addition STS-15 was scheduled to return the RTM-2 crew to Earth from their six month stay on the moon.
"We are pretty crowded up here" radioed Commander Rodriguez, "but we can get by for a few weeks. Just need some more chocolate bars please." With the SCSS-8 crew and the RTM crew the Skylab Columbia Space station now has nine occupants.
Members of the SimNASA staff are still looking at all available options, to include the crew of the AESC-6 crew bring the RTM-2 crew home during the rotation of AESC vehicles.
RTM-2 Returns to SCSS
Posted Friday, May 12, 2006
Having left the lunar surface in the Lunar Return Vehicle (LRV) on May 5th, the second "Return to Moon" (RTM-2) crew arrived later that day at the SimNASA Lunar Orbiting Logistical Station (LOLS) - the second space station for SimNASA - which serves as a go-between for transport between the SCSS and the Moon.
CDR Tim Novinger and PLT Miguel Villamor docked the LRV to the LOLS. The LRV is shown on the left, the LOLS is center, and the TUG is docked on the right:
The RTM-2 crew then used the TUG to transport themselves to the SkyLab-Columbia Space Station (SCSS). Arrving on May 10th, this crew shall be brought back to Earth on the STS-15 shuttle mission.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer
STS-15 to Deliver New LRV2
Posted Wednesday, May 10, 2006
STS-15 CDR Preston Barlett and PLT Luis Afonso shall launch May 15th to deliver the new Lunar Return Vehicle (LRV2):
The new LRV2 features improved attitude jets and docking port. The LRV2 shall be tested by the RTM-3 test crew, Jason Hyatt. Hyatt shall dock the LRV2 to a free port of the SkyLab-Columbia Space Station (SCSS) and complete a 48 hour life-support system and commmunication "shakedown" test. Once cleared, the LRV2 shall be put into rotation to be brought to the Moon.
STS-15 shall then return with the old LRV, as well as the RTM-2 crew.
- Reporting for SimNASA: Mike Caruso, Public Affairs Officer
RTM-2 On the way home
Posted Friday, May 5, 2006
Earlier today, the crew of RTM-2 left Boudreaux station, climbing into the Lunar Return Vehicle (LRV) and ascended from the lunar surface to a safe and uneventful rendezvous with the Lunar Orbiting Logistic Station (LOLS).
Work was set immediately in detaching the LRV from the Lander, and moving it to RTM Armstrong. It is expected later today for the crew of LRV to undock from LOLS and begin the 3 day journey back to Earth.
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